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Deputies seek suspect who tried to grab child

The Marion County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s help in finding a man who authorities say attempted to grab a child Friday near Four Corners Elementary.

The suspect approached three students, age 5 to 7, who were walking home from school about 3:15 p.m., said Lt. Chris Baldridge in a press release. He asked for Girl Scout Cookies then attempted to grab one of the children. The eldest in the group then slapped the suspect’s wrist, allowing the victim to escape, the sheriff’s office said.

The children ran away, and the man chased after them when a witness in the area called after the suspect. The suspect then run back to his vehicle and sped away.

The suspect was described as a thin, black man in his 20s or 30s with short curly hair, a nose piercing and no facial hair, according to a press release issued by the sheriff’s office. He was wearing long pants, Adidas shoes and a black sweatshirt and had either a tattoo or a birthmark shaped like a bird or a skull on his face or neck.

The suspect’s vehicle was described as a charcoal, two-door Acura with tinted windows, a green triangle hanging from the rear view window and cigarettes in the center console.

Anyone who sees someone matching the description is asked to call 911. Callers may remain anonymous.